WATCH: Dallas sportscaster's rant on gay college player goes viral

Updated 10:38 am, Thursday, February 13, 2014

SAN ANTONIO — A Dallas sportscaster's two-minute rant on all-American defensive lineman Michael Sam's announcement that he is gay caught fire on the internet Thursday morning.

Dale Hansen, a longtime TV sports anchor for ABC's Dallas/Fort Worth affiliate WFAA, offered his take on the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, who is likely to become the first openly gay player in the NFL, and the anti-gay culture in the League.

The video had received millions of views within three days of being posted and a number of national viral websites, such as BuzzFeed, shared Hansen's rant on Thursday.

“Several NFL officials telling Sports Illustrated it will hurt him on Draft Day because a gay player wouldn't be welcome in an NFL locker room; it would be uncomfortable because that's a man's world,” Hansen said. “You beat a woman and drag her down a flight of stairs pulling her hair out by the roots? You're the fourth guy taken in the NFL Draft. You kill people while driving drunk? That guy's welcome… Players accused of rape and pay the woman to go away; you lie to police trying to cover up a murder? We're comfortable with that. You love another man, well now you've gone too far.”

Hansen went on to compare the backlash against Sam to disallowing black players because “it would be uncomfortable.”

Photo: Brandon Wade, Associated Press

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Former Missouri standout Michael Sam says he is gay, and he could become the first openly homosexual player in the NFL.

Former Missouri standout Michael Sam says he is gay, and he could become the first openly homosexual player in the NFL.

Photo: Brandon Wade, Associated Press

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Michael Sam was the SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year during the 2013 season.

Michael Sam was the SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year during the 2013 season.

Photo: Shane Keyser, MCT

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Michael Sam (52) was key leader of a Missouri team that reached the SEC title game in 2013.

Michael Sam (52) was key leader of a Missouri team that reached the SEC title game in 2013.

Photo: Jamie Squire, Getty Images

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Michael Sam had 48 tackles, including 19 for a loss during his senior season.

Michael Sam had 48 tackles, including 19 for a loss during his senior season.

Photo: Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images

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Michael Sam had 11.5 sacks during his senior season.

Michael Sam had 11.5 sacks during his senior season.

Photo: David Eulitt, MCT

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Michael Sam played at the Senior Bowl on Jan. 25, 2014, in Mobile, Ala.

Michael Sam played at the Senior Bowl on Jan. 25, 2014, in Mobile, Ala.

Photo: G.M. Andrews, Associated Press

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Michael Sam says he revealed his sexual preference to his teammates before the 2013 season.

Michael Sam says he revealed his sexual preference to his teammates before the 2013 season.

Photo: Darron Cummings, Associated Press

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Michael Sam attended high school in nearby Hitchcock.

Michael Sam attended high school in nearby Hitchcock.

Photo: Rogelio V. Solis, Associated Press

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Michael Sam was a Lombardi Award finalist.

Michael Sam was a Lombardi Award finalist.

Photo: James Nielsen, Houston Chronicle

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Michael Sam, center, and UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr, right, visit with 16-year-old cancer patient, Maddy Batiz, 16, at Texas Children's Hospital on Dec. 11, 2013. Sam and Barr, along with University of Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley, and University of Pittsburgh defensive tackle Aaron Donald were finalists for the Rotary Lombardi Award. less

Michael Sam, a defensive lineman with the Missouri Tigers, sent waves
through the world of sports Monday when he came out as gay. Expected to
be a sure pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, Sam would become both the
first openly gay athlete to be drafted and, therefore, to play in the
NFL. But he's not the first professional athlete to go public with his
homosexuality -- here are some of the most notable openly gay pros.

Michael Sam, a defensive lineman with the Missouri Tigers, sent waves through the world of sports Monday when he came out as gay. Expected to be a sure pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, Sam would become both ... more

Photo: Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images

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Figure skater Brian Boitano dominated the world stage for the better part of a decade, winning four-consecutive U.S. championships and two world titles, including a gold medal at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. He came out as gay in December 2013 when he was named to the U.S. delegation to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, where LGBT "propaganda" was outlawed in 2013.

Figure skater Brian Boitano dominated the world stage for the better part of a decade, winning four-consecutive U.S. championships and two world titles, including a gold medal at the 1988 Winter Olympics in ... more

Photo: Maddie Meyer, Getty Images

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Megan Rapinoe, who plays with Seattle Reign FC in addition to her U.S. National Team duties, has been a giant on the women's soccer scene for at least a decade. An alumna of the University of Portland, she helped the U.S. win gold at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. She came out as gay that summer before the start of the London Games.

Megan Rapinoe, who plays with Seattle Reign FC in addition to her U.S. National Team duties, has been a giant on the women's soccer scene for at least a decade. An alumna of the University of Portland, she ... more

Photo: Jamie Sabau, Getty Images

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Jason Collins led his Stanford basketball team into the Elite Eight of the 2001 NCAA Tournament and was the 18th-overall pick in that year's NBA Draft. The 7-foot center played 12 years in the pros and came out as gay in April 2013 at aged 35, in the twilight of his career. He became the first active male athlete in a major U.S. sport to be openly gay.

Jason Collins led his Stanford basketball team into the Elite Eight of the 2001 NCAA Tournament and was the 18th-overall pick in that year's NBA Draft. The 7-foot center played 12 years in the pros and came out ... more

Photo: Bruce Bennett, Getty Images

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Orlando Cruz went undefeated in the first eight years of his professional boxing career and holds a 20-4 overall record. In October 2012, he became the first active boxer to come out as gay. "I have and will always be a proud Puerto Rican," Cruz said. "I have always been and always will be a proud gay man."

Orlando Cruz went undefeated in the first eight years of his professional boxing career and holds a 20-4 overall record. In October 2012, he became the first active boxer to come out as gay. "I have and will ... more

Photo: J. Meric, Getty Images

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Now one of the biggest stars in the WNBA, Brittney Griner led her Baylor Bears to an NCAA women's basketball title in 2012 and became the first college player to score 2,000 points and block 500 shots. She became a WNBA All-Star in her first year with the Phoenix Mercury. Griner came out as gay in April 2013 in an interview with Sports Illustrated.

Now one of the biggest stars in the WNBA, Brittney Griner led her Baylor Bears to an NCAA women's basketball title in 2012 and became the first college player to score 2,000 points and block 500 shots. She ... more

Photo: AAron Ontiveroz, DP STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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David Kopay broke ground as one of the first pro athletes to come out as gay. An All-American running back with the Washington Huskies, he signed out of college with the San Francisco 49ers and played in the NFL through 1972. It was in 1975 that he came out, and he has said that he felt his sexual orientation limited his coaching opportunities.

David Kopay broke ground as one of the first pro athletes to come out as gay. An All-American running back with the Washington Huskies, he signed out of college with the San Francisco 49ers and played in the ... more

Photo: Michael Buckner, Getty Images For Advocate

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Robbie Rogers played with the MLS's Columbus Crew from 2007 to 2011, scoring 13 goals before making a move to Leeds United of England's Championship league. After departing Leeds, he came out as gay during his retirement press conference in February 2013. He joined L.A. Galaxy just a few months later, and became the first openly gay athlete to play in a North American professional sports league.

Robbie Rogers played with the MLS's Columbus Crew from 2007 to 2011, scoring 13 goals before making a move to Leeds United of England's Championship league. After departing Leeds, he came out as gay during his ... more

Photo: Jamie Sabau, Getty Images

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The first player ever signed in the WNBA after leading Texas Tech to the 1993 NCAA championship, Sheryl Swoopes was a six-time All-Star and four-time league champion with the Houston Comets and averaged 15.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game through her career. A three-time gold medal winner as a member of the U.S. Olympic team, she came out in 2005 and joined the Seattle Storm for a year in 2008.

The first player ever signed in the WNBA after leading Texas Tech to the 1993 NCAA championship, Sheryl Swoopes was a six-time All-Star and four-time league champion with the Houston Comets and averaged 15.0 ... more

Photo: JIM BRYANT, Jim Bryant/Seattle P-I File

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Billy Bean hit .226 in parts of six seasons as an infielder with the Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. He enjoyed his best season in 1993 with San Diego, when he hit .260 with 5 home runs and 32 RBI. Not to be confused with the Billy Beane of "Moneyball" fame, this Bean came out as gay in 1999.

Billy Bean hit .226 in parts of six seasons as an infielder with the Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. He enjoyed his best season in 1993 with San Diego, when he hit .260 with 5 home ... more

Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

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A former Penn State star, John Amaechi played with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic and Utah Jazz in parts of five NBA seasons from 1995-2003, averaging 6.2 points-per-game during that span. He also played professionally in Greece, the United Kingdom, Italy and France. He came out as gay in 2007 during an interview with ESPN's "Outside the Lines."

A former Penn State star, John Amaechi played with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic and Utah Jazz in parts of five NBA seasons from 1995-2003, averaging 6.2 points-per-game during that span. He also ... more

Photo: TONY RANZE, AFP/Getty Images

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Former Oregon State defensive tackle Esera Tuaolo played in parts of 10 NFL seasons, most of them with the Minnesota Vikings. As a rookie second-round pick with Green Bay in 1991, he racked up 3.5 sacks while starting all 16 games. He came as gay out in an interview with HBO's "Real Sports" in 2002 and has worked with the NFL to curtail homophobic behavior ever since.

Former Oregon State defensive tackle Esera Tuaolo played in parts of 10 NFL seasons, most of them with the Minnesota Vikings. As a rookie second-round pick with Green Bay in 1991, he racked up 3.5 sacks while ... more

Photo: Stephen Dunn, Getty Images

Image 23 of 26

Widely considered the greatest American diver of all-time, Greg Louganis took home gold medals in both the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. He was also the odds-on favorite for gold in the 1980 games in Moscow, which the U.S. boycotted. He tested positive for HIV before the games in 1988, just months before hitting his head on the springboard in the preliminary rounds of the Seoul Olympics, an experience he detailed in his bestselling book “Breaking the Surface.”

Widely considered the greatest American diver of all-time, Greg Louganis took home gold medals in both the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. He was also the odds-on favorite for gold in the 1980 games in Moscow, which ... more

Photo: Tony Duffy, Getty Images

Image 24 of 26

Possibly the greatest women’s champion of all, Martina Navratilova won 18 Grand Slam singles titles and reached the finals at Wimbledon 12 times, including nine-straight from 1982 to 1990. Her winning streak of 74 consecutive matches remains unbroken, as do her marks for singles titles (167) and doubles titles (177) in the open era. She became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1981, the same year she was outed by the press.

Possibly the greatest women’s champion of all, Martina Navratilova won 18 Grand Slam singles titles and reached the finals at Wimbledon 12 times, including nine-straight from 1982 to 1990. Her winning streak ... more

Photo: JOEL ROBINE, AFP/Getty Images

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Billy Jean King won 39 Grand Slam titles and was instrumental in professionalizing women's tennis. One of the greatest players of all-time, she is perhaps best known for defeating former men's champion Bobby Riggs in the 1973's "Battle of the Sexes," which won her $100,000 in prize money. She was outed in 1981 during divorce proceedings and lost millions in endorsement deals. President Barack Obama appointed her to represent the U.S. in Sochi, but she had to bow out at the last minute due to the death of her mother.

Billy Jean King won 39 Grand Slam titles and was instrumental in professionalizing women's tennis. One of the greatest players of all-time, she is perhaps best known for defeating former men's champion Bobby ... more

Photo: Ted West, Getty Images

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WATCH: Dallas sportscaster's rant on gay college player goes viral

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“I'm not always comfortable when a man tells me he's gay. I don't understand his world, but I do understand he is part of mine,” Hansen said.

Hansen ended his talk with a quote from civil rights activist Audre Lorde.

“It is not our differences that divide us, it is our inability to recognize, accept and celebrate those differences,” he said.